In conjunction with the release of their debut album in July, Scandinavian melodic metal act Black Succubi sets out on their first UK tour this November. The tour is presented by SLW Promotions and Two Side Moon in UK as a follow up to the very positive British press regarding Black Succubi’s debut album.

“We’re very excited about this tour”, tells guitar player and founding member Thomas Pedersen, “it’s what we’re in it for; composing, rehearsing, recording…and touring. Playing live on a London stage Saturday night is definitely a dream come true, and we are honoured and very happy about the support and this opportunity to rock with the metal fans in UK”.

Nov 16, Thatched House, Stockport
Nov 18, Monto Water Rats, London
Nov 20, The Salutation Inn, Nottingham
Nov 21, The Duke of Neath, Neath
Nov 22, BH2 Bridge House, London - supporting Joe Stump (US)
Nov 23, Scruffy Murphy’s, Birmingham

Black Succubi are a Copenhagen, Denmark based melodic metal act founded by present and former members of IronFire, Fate, Sons of Tomorrow and PitchBlack. Black Succubi’s debut album was independently released through digital downloading and has received numerous excellent reviews from internet webzines and magazines internationally. Visit www.blacksuccubi.dk for music samples, biography, photos and video.

ARfm, in conjunction with Firefest, are proud to announce the release of “The Undying Fire”, the Firefest ARfm Benefit CD, a Limited Edition collection of 14 tracks all of which are either brand new, unreleased or live, all mastered by Steve Newman at the Blue Room Studios. Steve Newman also designed the Artwork and CD Booklet.

Firefest’s Kieran Dargan says “I can safely say that without the contribution of ARfm there would not have been a Firefest. When ARfm mentioned they had lost two major sponsors and were now looking at being forced to possibly wind up their entire operation, Firefest and Steve Newman, knew we had to do something to help. The idea of this CD was mooted”

Steve Price of ARfm said “We have been somewhat humbled by this experience. Kieran called me with the idea and I wondered if we could pull it off but the support from the artists, and labels, has been fantastic. Many have recorded brand new songs in literally a few days and those who were unable to do that have given us some real unreleased gems.”.

The full track listing is as follows:

House Of Lords – Point Of No Return (New); Valentine – Luv Honey (Unreleased demo from what would have been the 2^nd album); Shadowman – Freefall (Unreleased); Newman – Don’t Know Why (New); Robin Beck – I’m Serious (New); Talon – Paradise (Unreleased); Crunch – The World We Knew (New); Bombay Black – Without You (Regrooved Mix) (Unreleased); Heartland – I Believe (Unreleased); Nina Soderquist with Tommy Denander – How Do I? (New); Stormzone – On A Wing And A Prayer (Unreleased); Harem Scarem – Karma Cleansing (Live @ Firefest IV); Valentine – Tears In The Night (Live @ Firefest IV); FM – Bad Luck (Live @ Firefest IV)

“The Undying Fire” will be on sale at Firefest V (Nottingham Rock City, Oct 25 & 26) for £10 from the Merchandise stand. For those not attending this year’s Firefest, it can be ordered from the ARfm shop @ www.arfm.co.uk for £10 plus P&P. (£1 for UK, £2 for Europe/Rest Of The World)

Takara was originally formed in August of 1987 by guitarist Neal Grusky. In 1990, Takara with Jeff Scott Soto producing and singing, entered the studio to record songs which would become their debut CD. In 1992 Takara added new members, drummer Robert Duda and bassist Gary Schutt, both of whom would become play their part on the Takara debut CD.

  

Zero Corporation (Japan) and Now and Then records (Europe) offered Takara a record deal and "Eternal Faith" was released in December 1993. This CD entered the Burrn Charts at number 16, and European charts at number 8. Things were beginning to happen for this young rock band.

After a number of albums that included charting in Japan and various line up changes, Takara are now returning once again with new band members and new attitude. Fans who have stuck by the band through all the changes and years of waiting will be pleased with what's in store for Takara in 2008. Takara is re-emerging in 2008 with several albums coming out consecutively. For this new release Takara have added Brazilian vocal sensation Gustavo Monsanto to the band, as well  as Yngwie Malmsteen drummer and bassist Patrick Johannson and Bjorn Englen, as well as long time Takara keyboardist Brook Hansen and a special return by Jeff Scott Soto on backing vocals.

Neal Grusky had this to say: "It is with great pleasure that I'm announcing that Takara has signed to Shawn Gordon's Label  Progrock records. I am very excited about this new Takara album "Invitation to Forever". Our new album has all the distinctive trademark sounds that you might expect from a Takara album, just with a little bit more edge than previous albums.  We feel the match between Shawn and Progrock and Takara will be an incredible partnership in a very modern, and ever changing music business terrain. Shawn being a musician understands the needs of his bands, and works to find a  compromise that in the end, the fans and press will agree that is the new futu re for the industry.".

"Yet again I get to work with a band I've been a fan of, and local to me to boot. What's great about working with Neal is that he really understands the business part of this business as well as being an amazing musician, so it's a simple matter to jump back and forth between topics, not to mention this is a smoking album that is a great listen.", said Shawn Gordon, President of ProgRock Records